Login  

Register  

Rabbi Zvi Teichman - Never Turn Back - Shavuos 5782

By Rabbi Zvi Teichman

Posted on 06/03/22

Parshas HaShavua Divrei Torah sponsored by
Dr. Shapsy Tajerstein, DPM - Podiatry Care.
(410) 788-6633

Every day we are commanded to remember the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Some recite at the end of Shacharis the daily six different remembrances we are commanded to recall, one of them the events that took place on the sixth of Sivan 3,334 years ago.


The event we are to remember is often referred to as מעמד הר סיני, literally translated as the ‘standing’ or ‘position’ we took at Mount Sinai. Was it about how we stood or rather about the revelation that was accompanied by miraculous sounds and fire amidst a cloud and smoke?


Although many people omit these remembrances daily, the Magen Avraham reveals in the name of the Arizal from his Sefer HaKavonos, that the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah inserted the phrase ובנו בחרת מכל עם ולשון — You have chosen us from every people and tongue, with the intention to fulfill this very command to remember the revelation at Mount Sinai that indicated how we were lovingly selected to be the recipients of the Torah.


The question then begs, why are we emphasizing the fact we were chosen and not focusing on the remarkable revelation itself?


When extolling our ‘chosenness’ we express how we were distinguished in our role from all other, עם — people, and לשון— tongue. Are these repetitive synonyms for emphasis or is there a specific intent in contrasting us with both other ‘nations’ and ‘languages'?


A story is related how when the Sfas Emes was a young child he eagerly reported to his illustrious grandfather, the Chidushei HaRim, what he had learned in Cheder that day. The Rebbe had taught them the verse that describing how the entire Jewish nation encamped at Sinai, נגד ההר — opposite the mountain, comes to teach us only if our ‘faces’ are turned toward the mountain can we truly accept the Torah.


The Zaida lovingly added that more important than their facing the mountain is the placing of their backs to the rest of the world that makes all the difference. If a person although generally facing in the direction of the mountain turns ever so slightly towards the nations behind him, he is not accurately נגד — totally opposite the mountain and will be in danger of faltering.


Perhaps therefore we accentuate the מעמד, their positioning their bodies in standing directly opposite the mountain with their backs to the world without compromise.


There are two facets to the world left ‘behind’ us: their ‘culture’ the עם — its ‘society’, and the לשון — the expressive ideas and emotions that represent their deeper essences.


We were chosen because we are ready to distance ourselves from their societal norms and distorted notions of morality and truth.


Our world today and its values is very different from the one many of us grew up in. We are disappointed and perturbed by the quickly changing attitudes in society and the erosion of values and sensibilities we have been party to.


In truth we were never aligned. We are different. We place our backs to them in defiance to their beliefs and attitudes.


We must co-exist with great dignity and friendship, but we must never pledge allegiance to their system of beliefs and attitudes, nor succumb to their cultural influences.


The Jewish people lost one of its greatest heroes this week. Rabbi Uri Zohar, formerly perhaps the most popular entertainer in the State of Israel’s history, passed away. After years entrenched in the film industry and its culture, he turned his back to his past never glancing back, becoming one of the greatest Baalei Teshuva in recent history, dedicating his life to the promotion of Torah and its values, influencing tens of thousands towards greater religious observance.


The famed Maggid, Rav Reuven Karelinstein, took gravely ill and sought to receive a blessing from a holy man. Despite his frailty he trekked to Jerusalem to receive a blessing from Rav Uri Zohar. He approached him and explained his objective. Rav Uri Zohar was embarrassed and strongly encouraged the esteemed Rav to look for a truly righteous man to receive a blessing from for his recovery. The Rav looked deeply into Rav Uri’s eyes and proceeded to tell him how on his way from Bnei Brak to meet him he traveled on the famous Geha Road, a vast highway with several hundred thousand of people traversing it each day. He noticed a huge sign, larger than the Yeshiva he was visiting him in, that had lettered on it the following words:


URI ZOHAR, AFTER IT ALL, REVEAL IT TO US ALL, WHY DID YOU LEAVE IT ALL?


The Rav went on to say that if Uri Zohar was able to make sanctify the Name of Hashem in such a powerful way, he wanted a blessing from him. Uri finally consented.


May we redirect our attention to ‘the mountain’ once again, turning our backs to the world, ‘leaving it all’ behind. May we merit to return to that idyllic moment restoring our nation to its original glory, speedily in our days.


באהבה,


א גוט שבת א גוט יו"ט


צבי יהודה טייכמאן